Chief Knowledge Officer

New Zealand Ministry Of Economic Development; Wellington; On-site; NZD 255,000 - 319,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness benefits

Job summary

MBIE in Wellington is seeking a Chief Knowledge Officer to lead the Data, Knowledge and Analysis branch, shaping data strategy, governance and analytics across the organisation. You will turn information into trusted knowledge and actionable insight to support better decisions and outcomes for New Zealand.

You will report to the Deputy Secretary CDSS, work with government, academia, industry and Māori to strengthen knowledge and evidence capabilities, and drive evidence-informed decision-making

Qualifications

• Executive leadership across enterprise data, analytics and knowledge management with governance expertise.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary functions with enterprise-wide data and insights.
• Proven ability to develop enterprise strategies leveraging data for improved decision-making.
• Strategic thinker connecting government priorities to future capability needs.
• Strong influencing and communication skills for senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert strategic advice to MBIE’s SLT and deliver the Empowered by Data roadmap.
• Establish MBIE as a knowledge-led organisation with governed, integrated information assets.
• Build a mature enterprise knowledge management framework and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Drive capability and maturity in data, analytics and knowledge management.
• Build strategic partnerships and position MBIE as a leader in data governance.

Skills

Executive leadership

Enterprise data governance

Analytics strategy

Stakeholder management

Public sector experience

AI and advanced analytics

Strategic thinking

Education

Tertiary qualification or extensive senior management experience

Job description

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:

• Lead MBIE’s enterprise data, knowledge, analytics and economic insight capability
• Join the Corporate and Digital Shared Services Leadership Team and shape how MBIE uses its knowledge assets
• Champion the responsible use of AI, automation and advanced analytics across the public sector
• Permanent Full time | Wellington
• Salary Range [$255,498 – $319,373] TFR (Incl KiwiSaver) and wellness benefits

As Chief Knowledge Officer, you will hold enterprise-wide accountability for maximising the strategic value of MBIE’s information, data and analytical assets. You will bring data strategy, architecture, platforms, governance, knowledge management, analytics and economic insight together into a single function, turning information into trusted knowledge and actionable insight that supports better decisions and better outcomes for New Zealand.

Reporting to the Deputy Secretary Corporate and Digital Shared Services, you will lead the Data, Knowledge and Analysis branch, part of the Corporate and Digital Shared Services (CDSS) group. You will work collaboratively across government, academia, industry and with Māori to strengthen system-wide knowledge, evidence and analytical capability. In this role you will:

• Provide expert strategic advice to MBIE’s Senior Leadership Team and lead delivery of the Empowered by Data strategic roadmap
• Establish MBIE as a knowledge-led organisation, ensuring information, data and insight are governed, integrated and leveraged as strategic assets
• Build a mature enterprise knowledge management framework that strengthens institutional memory, organisational learning and regulatory compliance
• Drive capability and maturity across data, analytics and knowledge management, and foster a culture of evidence-informed decision-making
• Build strategic partnerships and position MBIE as a recognised public sector leader in knowledge stewardship and data governance

Ngā pukenga me ngā wheako e hiahiatia ana - Skills and Experience Required

You will bring:

• Executive leadership experience across enterprise data, analytics, evaluation, information and knowledge management, with a strong understanding of best practice, governance frameworks and emerging trends
• Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary functions within complex organisations, with accountability for enterprise-wide data, knowledge, intelligence and insights capabilities
• Demonstrated success developing and implementing enterprise strategies that leverage data, information and organisational knowledge to improve decision-making, performance, innovation and public value
• A strategic, systems-oriented thinker who connects government priorities, economic and societal trends and organisational objectives to identify opportunities, risks and future capability needs
• Strong influencing and communication skills, with the ability to lead across organisational boundaries and engage senior leaders
• Passion for innovation and emerging technologies, including AI, automation and advanced analytics, with the judgement to apply them responsibly and ethically
• Tertiary qualification, or extensive and comparable senior management experience in the public and private sector

MBIE's goal is to create a resilient and high-performing economy that delivers real and ongoing quality of life for all New Zealanders.

We do this by working with others to create an environment that supports businesses to be more productive and internationally competitive, enables all New Zealanders to participate in the economy through improved job opportunities and by working to ensure quality housing is more affordable.

People are at the heart of our mahi, our way of working is guided by our values which shape our behaviours.

• Māia– Bold and brave
• Pae Kahurangi – Build our Future

Our aspirations are echoed in our Māori identity – Hīkina Whakatutuki – which broadly means ‘lifting to make successful'.

MBIE recognises the partnership founded under TeTiritio Waitangi between Māori and the Crown and is committed to giving effect to TeTiritio Waitangi. We will do this through enduring, meaningful and effective partnerships with iwi, Māori, other Māori groups/organisations and the Crown, as this is critical to enable economic and social development, both for Māori and for wider Aotearoa New Zealand. We are committed to continuing to partner with iwi in order to find new sustainable solutions to address long standing systemic and cross-cutting issues facing Māori and wider Aotearoa New Zealand and we are also committed to identifying opportunities for iwi to lead and creating an enabling environment for iwi to leverage these opportunities.

Applications close at 5pm on 28 October 2026